Australians save $90 a month by switching to electric cars

Australians who have made the switch to an electric vehicle are saving close to $90 a month on fuel, according to new research from Polestar released today.

The survey of 1,015 Australian motorists found EV owners spend a median of $60 per month on charging, compared to $150 for petrol, diesel, and hybrid drivers. The fieldwork was completed in mid-January, before the current global conflict sent fuel prices higher. For buyers keeping an eye on upfront costs, here's a look at the cheapest electric cars available in Australia right now.

Seventy-nine per cent of EV drivers charge at home, where rooftop solar, off-peak tariffs, and EV-tailored energy plans give them direct control over costs.

Range anxiety barely registers in the data. Polestar claims an average WLTP range of 605km across its Australian lineup, with up to 678km available in the Polestar 5. The median respondent drives 158km per week, and 84% cover no more than 300km. Notably, 72% said their longest single trip in the past 12 months was under 500km.

Concern about fuel availability is no longer limited to EV sceptics either. Thirty-six per cent of all drivers, including petrol and hybrid owners, reported some form of "pump anxiety" even before the current supply disruptions.

Polestar Australia Managing Director Scott Maynard said EV owners were already ahead on running costs before fuel prices spiked, adding that Australia's vulnerability in fuel supply "won't magically improve when the current conflict ends."

For buyers still on the fence, the numbers make a straightforward case: the savings are real, the range is there, and Australia's best electric SUVs cover every budget.